PhD Public and International Affairs at University of Pittsburgh

An interdisciplinary PhD that equips students to assess and conduct academic research in public affairs with a domestic or global lens, from protests and policing at the local level to nuclear deterrence and immigration policy at the global level. The structure was redesigned to move students from coursework to dissertation research faster.

Faculty: School of Public and International Affairs  |  Department: Doctor of Philosophy in Public and International Affairs  |  Duration: Coursework of 67 credit hours plus a six-credit dissertation; most admitted students receive four years of funding  |  Intake: Fall only; deadline January 15 for all applicants (the funding-eligible cohort is limited)  |  Location: Pittsburgh, PA, United States

What you will study

All students are trained in advanced qualitative and quantitative methods. Required components include a professional development workshop, dedicated comprehensive exam preparation time and a research design workshop; the comprehensive exam is individualized to each student's dissertation field. Students take electives in other Pitt units and can add area studies certificates (Africa, Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, European Union, Global Studies, Latin America, Russia). After a master's degree, up to 30 credits (36 if the master's was earned at SPIA) can be applied toward the total.

Career pathways

Graduates hold tenure-track posts at universities in the US and abroad (Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, Lebanon), roles in the federal government and senior positions in nonprofit organizations. Class of 2020: 33% federal government, 50% nonprofit/NGO, 17% private.

Official programme page